LG G5 Unboxing

It’s not always that you can take apart something and end up with a better product, but that’s exactly the calling card of LG’s latest flagship, the G5.

Yup, you’re looking at the Lego equivalent of a smartphone, or at least the closest thing we have to a truly modular device that can be upgraded as easily as swapping out its components. Obviously, that future hasn’t fully arrived yet, but it’s good to see the Korean manufacturer actively pursuing it.

But before we get too far ahead of ourselves, it might be a good idea to take a look at what the G5’s retail package includes and, perhaps more importantly, see how its optional accessories slot into the base of the phone. Because as a G5 owner, obviously, the last thing you want to see is this $750 phone getting jammed in the wrong slot, and then breaking it into more pieces than LG intended.

To that end (and to show you how to get the app drawer back on the G5, among other things of note), we’ve published our LG G5 unboxing video.

As always, we encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments below and to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more videos like the one you see here.

Galaxy Note 10’s screen is larger than iPhone XS Max’s, leaks say

Size does matter. In 2018, Apple and Samsung got into a relatively quiet war with screen sizes. Headlined by their respective premium models, both companies have pushed the envelope a tiny bit further with every succeeding release. This year, the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 topped out with a 6.4-inch screen. However, Apple released a slightly larger 6.5-inch iPhone XS Max. In doing so, Apple created its largest iPhone to date, winning this year’s size contest.

Next year is a different story. With the notch’s inevitable death, screen sizes will likely reach an all-time high. Contrary to Steve Jobs’ “smaller is better” philosophy, the smartphone industry is continuously getting bigger year after year. Pretty soon, if not already, the smartphone industry will completely cannibalize phablets. In fact, “phablet” has been a lost word since the introduction of large screens.

Now, a rumor confirms this trend even more. According to Korean sources, Samsung’s upcoming premium lineup will extend their reach further. Supposedly, next year’s Galaxy Note 10 will have a damning 6.66-inch screen. Further, the upcoming smartphone is attached with the codename “DaVinci.” If true, this will be Samsung’s largest Note to date.

Regardless, screen size accounts for only one part of the smartphone equation. Since the current-gen Note 9 was just launched recently, more details are surely few and far between. However, according to the same source, the Note 10 might come with an upgraded Snapdragon 8150 chip. Who can say? Samsung can pack a lot into this humongous phone.

Of course, the industry is no stranger to extremely large phones. The market has skirted with the 7-inch border before. Funnily enough, Samsung’s Galaxy Note 10 isn’t even the first Note 10 to go extra-large. Earlier this year, Huawei launched the Honor Note 10, a massive 6.95-inch beast of a phone.

We are now approaching a world wherein it’s perfectly normal to ask: How big is your smartphone?

Samsung, OPPO dominate Southeast Asia smartphone market

Do you buy a new smartphone whenever the latest model comes out? In Southeast Asia, consumers appear to be holding back. Also, each major market in the region has different favorites.

Market analyst firm Canalys reported that smartphone shipments in Southeast Asia (excluding Laos, Brunei, and Timor-Leste) fell by three percent YoY in Q3 2018. The firm finds this quite surprising as the region is one of the most important markets in Asia after India and China.

If analyzed by country, three of the five largest SEA markets suffered falls this quarter. Vietnam and Thailand dropped by 17 and 20 percent respectively, while the Philippines plunged by 3.1 percent. On the other hand, Malaysia and Indonesia experienced growth by 5.3 and 13.2 percent.

Overall, Samsung is the top smartphone vendor with 5.8 million units shipped followed by OPPO with 4.8 million.

Interestingly enough, four out of the five major SEA markets are dominated by Samsung, but OPPO got hold of the Philippines. The Chinese company was able to the overtake long-time local king Cherry Mobile. Additionally, OPPO is part of the top three in all five major SEA markets.

Other major phone brands Huawei, Vivo, and Xiaomi were also able to capture a good chunk of the major markets, but none of them were able to reach the top spot.

Google Pixel 3 Top Shot: The Instagram boyfriend you never had

We’ve all been there. You’re at a beautiful place wearing beautiful clothes, the lighting is just right and you wish you could capture it in a photo — the makings of a perfect travel #OOTD photo!

Except, the photo came out bad and you totally looked awkward. Whether it be because of your lack of an IG boyfriend, or just a boyfriend, a friend, or a stranger tasked to take the pic with a lack of IG skills, it happens. And as you sulk in regret at that wasted photo opportunity and the knowledge that that picture you had in your head will never grace your IG feed, know that there is a feature that can remedy this.

Remember the Google Pixel 3? Yes, the smartphone that came in Not Pink.

In the process of reviewing the phone, I came upon a glorious realization: The Top Shot feature is exactly what I never knew I needed for my travel #OOTDS.

Let’s backtrack. Google’s Top Shot is a feature that automatically takes a number of photos to ensure you don’t miss the actual moment.

But, what it’s also good for is making sure you get that perfect Instagram shot. You’ll never have to ask someone to take your photo and insist they just keep tapping the shutter hoping one photo comes out good enough. Top Shot goes as far as recommending you the good takes. It’s the Instagram boyfriend you always wished you had!

This feature also works wonders for awkward posers like myself. I just have someone take a photo, make sure I move around during the shoot, and pick out the best candid-looking one.

The results? Photos that are good enough for your feed! Here are some samples from my recent trip to Paris.

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I assure you, none of those looked that good in the initial photos but Top Shot came to my rescue.